Participatory Irrigation Management in Andhra Pradesh

Transcription

1 Ap-pim/kvr/ Participatory Irrigation Management in Andhra Pradesh A Quick Review of 7 years of experience Conducted by K.V.Raju H.L Shashidhara N.L. Narasimha Reddy Narendra Babu Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources Institute for Social and Economic Change Bangalore Supported by The Planning Commission, Government of India Co-ordinated by Development Support Centre Nr. Government Tube Well, Bopal, Ahmedabad , Gujarat, India Tel: , ; Fax: dsc@dscindia.org; Website:

2 Ap-pim/kvr/ Foreword Development Support Centre (DSC), an NGO working on Participatory Management of Natural Resources since 1994, has formed a National Support Group (NSG) on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM). The need for such a group came during the deliberations of a national workshop conducted by DSC to share the findings of the six state study on Tail-enders and Other Deprived in the Canal Irrigation System in November 28-29, Taking forward this idea, DSC s Founder Chairman the late Shri Anil Shah initiated the NSG in which eminent academicians and practitioners working in the field of PIM came together to discuss the issues faced in promoting quality PIM across the country. As a first step, parameters and indicators were developed for defining a successful PIM. Based on these parameters and indicators, a need was felt to study and learn lessons from the performance of Water Users Associations (WUA) in three states viz. Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which had pioneered PIM and up-scaled it through a legislation and Gujarat which had initiated PIM through voluntary measure by issuing series of Government orders. Taking this idea forward, DSC approached the Planning Commission which was kind enough to support this initiative by providing financial assistance to carry out the study in A.P. and M.P. Eminent researchers such as Dr KV Raju from the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore and Prof KV Raju from Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand agreed to carry out study. The findings of the studies indicated the need for continuous capacity building of functionaries, technical interventions for increasing water use efficiency and policy interventions for providing greater autonomy to Water Users Associations at the minor, distributory and project level. The findings were shared in the Regional Workshop on PIM held on January 20-21, 2006 at Ahmedabad. This workshop was financially supported by the agencies such as the Aga Khan Foundation, Planning Commission, IWMI-TATA, Water Management Forum and NABARD. About 125 participants, senior

3 Ap-pim/kvr/ Government functionaries, academicians and practitioners from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra participated in the workshop. It was inaugurated by Prof Kirit Parikh, Member, Planning Commission while Shri J Hari Narayan, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, Prof A Vaidyanathan and Prof Y.K Alagh eminent economists provided the concluding remarks. Some of the key issues identified during the workshop were: Need to create an enabling environment that would support the WUAs at various levels. Need for a comprehensive strategy and package for building capacities of WUAs, staff of the Irrigation Dept. and NGOs. Need for introducing volumetric supply and pricing of canal water. The participants felt that the National Support Group could take forward these issues at the State and National level. Sachin Oza Executive Director

4 Ap-pim/kvr/ Contents 1. Introduction Methodology Evolution of Participatory Irrigation Management in A.P Water User Associations (WUAs) WUA and other Institutions Resources mobilization Operation & Maintenance Role of WUA Water Allocation 8.2 Water Distribution Role of President and TC Members 8.3 Water Regulation 8.4 Water Use Efficiency Duty Cropping Pattern 8.5 Acreage Planned v/s Actual Crop Grown in SRSP command Canal System 9.Groundwater Exploitation Increased dependency on groundwater 9.2 Power and Groundwater Draft 10. Effects of drought in SRSP and delta areas Some Issues Conditions of Structures - Canals/distributaries cannot withstand the quantity of water for which it is designed 11.2 Records to be maintained 11.3 Though there is warabandhi system, still tail enders are not getting water in Gudlacheruvu region 11.4 Illegal Utilization - Water given for drinking purpose is being utilized for irrigation (system fed) 11.5 WUA President as a Civil Contractor 11.6 Fishing should be open for auction 11.7 Upstream Abstraction 11.8 Conflicts with Revenue Department 12. Indicators WUAs Visited 12.2 Reorganisation of WUAs 12.3 Management 12.4 Water Distribution 12.5 Water Use Efficiency 12.6 Conjunctive Usage of Groundwater 12.7 Operation and Maintenance 13. Some Suggestions Water Allocation 13.2 Skills Upgradation inadequate 13.3 Capacity Building 13.4 Linking SRSP canal to the Tanks under Command Area of DBM 31, Warangal 13.5 Percolation Tanks in Rayalseema Region 13.6 Strict Monitoring 13.7 Water Fee Collection 13.8 Maintaining the Records 13.9 Promoting ID crops

5 Ap-pim/kvr/ Reference Annexure List of Tables Table 1: Particulars of WUAs covered by the study across regions in Andhra Pradesh Table 2: Water fee and its allocation to various agencies Table 3: showing the Acutal and Design Water Allocation Table 4: Operational plan and water budgeting Table 5: Method followed in allocating water Table 6: Functions and Practice by WUA in Water Regulation Table 7: Actual practices in the field regarding water distribution Table 8: Growth in number of Wells (open well/shallow well) in Telangana Region Table 9: Record maintenance practise Table 10: Joint azmoish in various parts of AP Table 11: Conflicting Legal Frameworks over Tank Resources List of Annexure Table 12: Participation and Management of WUA Table 13: Planned Area (Thrown open for Irrigation) and Actual Irrigated Area of Kakatiya Canal up to Km 234/00 for the period from (Khariff) Table 14: area irrigated till 2003 v/s this year Table 15: Growth in number of Borewells in Telangana Region Table 16: Area irrigated in Krishna Delta Table 17: Statement showing year wise average yield, area and productions in srsp projects from to Table 18: O&M Works by Farmers Organizations List of Figures Fig 1: Location Map of Study Area Fig 2: O & M Works by Farmers' Organisations Fig 3: O&M works by Farmers' Organisations Fig 4: O&M works and amount recieved by WUAs at State level Fig 5: Water use efficiency in SRSP Project Fig 6: Rice crop grown in SRSP (Kharif and Rabi ) Fig 7: Area Irrigated and Water Utilization SRSP Fig 8:Planned v/s Actual Wet & ID grown for RABI - Above LMD, SRSP Fig 9: Planned v/s Actual Wet & ID grown - Below LMD, SRSP Fig 10:Planned v/s Actual Wet crop grown in Khariff Above LMD, SRSP Fig 11:Planned v/s Actual Wet & ID crop grown Khariff, Below LMD, SRSP Fig 12: sourcewise area irrigated in SRSP Area (in acres) Fig 13:Area Irrigated till 2003 v/s 2004 Fig 14: Groundwater Usage till year 2003 vs Fig 15:Ayacut Irrigated Under KE Delta Fig 16: Ayacut Irrigated in Krishna Delta (Vijayawada) Fig 17: Ayacut irrigated - Vamsadhara Project Fig 18: Ayacut irrigated - GDS (SE/ELURU)

6 Ap-pim/kvr/ Participatory Irrigation Management in Andhra Pradesh A Quick Review of 7 years of experience 1 1. Introduction The state Andhra Pradesh has made considerable effort in the past seven years in Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM). Several studies were carried out at different stages of PIM-AP. The present study acquires importance, as it began at the time when PIM is entering into next generation of reforms. As part of the current study, some of the WUAs covered by the lead researcher of this study, in its early phase, were revisited 2. Attempts were made to compare and understand the direction in which PIM is moving. This study gains importance, as there is change in political leadership, which led to new thinking on the PIM. Having completed minimum rehabilitation, it is time for WUAs to concentrate on water management. Others states in the country are looking closely at the experience of AP, which has made a large-scale intervention in PIM. The outcome of this experiment will determine the direction of PIM in the country. The study looked into outcome of PIM based on its current stage and tried to map future needs looking into experience so far and priorities emerging in the context of next generation reforms. 2. Methodology Participatory irrigation management is reviewed mainly with the objective of understanding in-depth, the problem, its dimensions and the actual reasons for the problems involved in getting adequate water for irrigation. Meeting with many WUA members gave a different dimensions regarding PIM. The study began with a consultation with the principal secretary and other senior officials at the state level, followed by extensive discussions with field officials, who provided insights on issues that need to be focused by the study. The fieldwork was completed between January and March The books and records were also consulted and secondary data was collected from the officials during the visit. Coverage of projects and WUAs across the regions is presented in the Table 1. Table 1: WUAs covered by the study across three regions in Andhra Pradesh Region Fields Visited in 2005 No. of WUAs visited Telangana Region 05/jan -- 13/jan 12 Coastal Andhra Pradesh 11/feb -- 22/feb 17 Rayalseema 09/march -- 22/march 15 Total 44* * Includes group discussions with 13 WUAs of SRSP command 1 This study was sponsored by Development Support Centre from AKF funds. The study was carried out by K.V.Raju (Project Leader), H.L. Shashidhar (Water Resource Engineer) both from the Ecological Economics Unit, of ISEC, Bangalore, and N.L.Narasimha Reddy (Anthropologist) and Narendra Babu (Water Resources Engineer) both are from PLFG, Hyderabad. 2 The situation when the study was carried out is as follows. Second term for WUA began in January 2005, though election was held in October In nine districts elections for WUAs were not held. The elections for Distributory committees did not take place for second term. Since the beginning, elections were not held for Project Level Committees.

7 Ap-pim/kvr/ While selecting WUAs, care was taken to have representation WUAs of head reach, middle reach and tail end. And further covered head reach, middle reach and tail-end WUAs within a selected area. In a few places, the team had an opportunity to interact with the presidents of different WUAs at the same time. This has provided an opportunity to understand the viewpoints and experiences of highly motivated leaders and change makers. WUAs were selected randomly from the districts chosen covering various geographical zones. After identifying the WUA s, during the visit to the respective WUAs, discussions with officials of irrigation department, farmers and villagers of WUAs held. With the help of the officials, we identified the WUAs as what they considered as highly problematic or best-practiced WUA. During field visits, WUAs visited are from, 16 major irrigation system, 3 medium irrigation, 22 minor irrigation projects, 2 anicuts and 1 lift irrigation system. Also group discussions were carried out with 13 WUA members and farmers. 3. Evolution of PIM The experience on Participatory Irrigation Management in Andhra Pradesh can be put into three phases. In the first phase, the state has taken up a pilot programme (in early nineties) on a small scale covering a Minor with a command area of about 1,236 acres (5L of D-64) under Sriramsagar Project. This was followed with a largescale Pilot Programme, covering a command area of about 49,420 acres, under six different distributaries in Sriramsagar Project during In the second phase, having gained the experience on the utility and practicability of the Water Users Association (WUA) in the management of irrigation system, the state has scaled up the initiative to the entire state. Two things have happened at this stage. First, an act was passed to provide policy and legal space for WUAs. Second, WUAs (after elections) were provided with capacities and resources required for PIM. At this point emphasis was given to minimum rehabilitation, as to improve system before WUAs could take over maintenance. Though this was right measure, it created a mind set that WUAs are there to take up works. In the third stage, having completed minimum rehabilitation, WUAs are expected to focus on water management, and annual repairs and maintenance. At this point, there was a delay in elections and subsequently elections were held in October There was no effort to prepare or build perspective to deal with change management. As result, WUAs across the regions have expressed their dissatisfaction over the financial resource provided to them. There has been gap in terms of capacity building and facilitation by the department during this stage. With the new government taken over reigns in AP, they started exploring the role for PRIs, etc in PIM. Above was the setting when study was carried out. The study has attempted to capture the perspective of different stakeholders on the evolutionary path, gains and emerging priorities. It has looked the way different local institutions have forged relations, however limited these may be. Further, it examined competency of WUA in playing its role as self-help institution to understand its needs to mange next generation PIM.

8 Ap-pim/kvr/ The Andhra Pradesh Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems (APFMIS) Act, enacted in 1997 (Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1997), provides the basis for the takeover of the management and maintenance of irrigation systems by Water Users Associations (WUAs). This Act aims at reforms of irrigation management at both system and agency levels, and devolves powers to the water users. It is expected that the implementation of this Act will address such problems as inadequate water availability at the lowest of the outlets, poor maintenance of the system at the field level, and inequitable distribution of water at the farmers level. It is also felt that when farmers manage the system themselves, they will have full understanding and knowledge of the system, and hence will be more willing to pay water fee. 4. Water User Associations (WUAs) (i) Elections: WUAs and Distributory committees were formed in There was time lapse between the WUA first term and next phase elections 3. So, in 2002 WUAs have handed back accounts and other registers to competent authority. General feedback on this process suggests that a number of WUAs have not completed the process of auditing and handing over even now. As a result, in many cases the newly formed WUAs have to open account without looking into earlier financial transactions. This brings into focus the need for a system while transferring accounts to one to other. Finally elections were held in 2003 for WUAs (except in nine districts), but not for Distributory Committees 4. The delay due to delay in conducting elections and subsequently time lapse between second term elections and oath taking of WUA has affected the PIM process 5. The following are the important concerns emerging from the field interactions. First, farmers have a limited role on decisions of water release at project level in the absence of project level committee. This is resulting in conflicts and misunderstanding on intention of allocation of water for other users (i.e., drinking water, etc). This is very much evident from the case of SRSP, where water has been released for drinking water to Warangnal. This was interpreted as political interference. Second, in the absence Distributory Committee framers have no role in repairs and maintenance of distributaries. In addition, conflicts between tail-end WUAs and head reach farmers have been persisting. Tenant farmers and women participation is also very limited. There was no effort to enlist women farmers in the command area and facilitate them to take part in election, as voters. At least 5% of farmers are women farmers. There is no data with the farmers generally. No information is available regarding women participation in voting or in election in WUA. 3 Elections were delayed for WUA; and after a gap of one year the elections for WUA was conducted. During this period competent authority, acted as a WUA and discharged all the responsibilities. Elections for Distributory Committee were still pending, while elections were not held for Project Committee since the Act came into force. 4 As per the act, provisions are made for committees at project level and distributory level. In reality, elections were not held so far for project level committees. In the absence of elected committees, competent authority will discharge all the responsibilities. 5 WUAs took oath in January 2004, though elections were held in October 2003.

9 Ap-pim/kvr/ (ii) Demarcation of administrative area: WUA is constituted based on hydraulic unit. Therefore, WUA area will generally spread over more than one village. Further, farmers in a single village will have membership in more than one WUA depending location of field. It is possible that a single farmer may own land in more than one WUA area. However, s/he is eligible to vote only for one WUA. Discussion with farmers suggests that they have encountered practical difficulties in dealing with such issues in the absence guidance from officials. In 2003, the area for WUAs has been re-demarcated. As a result, the number of WUAs in Telangana region has marginally reduced when compared with number of WUAs On the other hand, the number of WUAs in Coastal Andhra has increased. In the words of officials the area for WUAs has reduced to less than 5000 acres in 2001 from acres in Similarly, area for DC has reduced to acres from acres. In the words WUA president in coastal Andhra the reorganization of WUA area was aimed at reducing the influence and control of WUA president over large financial resources. Two concerns emerging from the above process are as follows: a) There seem to be delay in plough back of water fee to WUA, as there was no preparation of revenue officials on the measures required from revenue department in the reorganization structure of WUA area. b) For instance, in costal Andhra with reorganization earlier WUA resulted in 2 WUAs, one for head reach and other for tail-end. As a result there has been conflict between the two. c) While the size is important for operational reasons, collective actions and other socio-political dimensions are also needs to be taken into consideration. Further, officials need to sensitize and minimize conflicts. (iii) Reorganisation: Along with reorganization of WUA area, some changes were made in the institutional structure of WUA. Some of the important changes are as follows: The number of Territorial Committee members has increased to 12 in WUAs under major and medium irrigation projects and six in minor irrigation projects. Position of Vice-President was introduced in 2003, where in either president or vice president should be elected from tail-end TC; and will jointly manage the account. Indirect elections to WUA president instead of direct elections. One-third of TC members will retire once in two years, which is aimed at providing continuity to WUA. It also means that elections for president and vice-president will be also held once in two years. In the view of some WUA presidents, two years is too short duration for achieving any meaningful purpose. It is their experience that during the last one year they could not do much due to water shortage and other reasons. The next one year will also pass just like that. Another point made by some of the WUA presidents is that indirect elections would help political lobbying and unhealthy situation.

10 Ap-pim/kvr/ Though there is an understanding among people that either president or Vice-president must be elected from tail-end, but in reality local choices and power equations have led to ignoring this in a few cases. (iv) Functional gaps: There is a wide gap between what has been proposed in guidelines and how WUAs are functioning in reality. WUA is more a group of individuals representing irrigating farmers. It is expected to look after maintenance of structures, water regulation, distribution and equity concerns, including tail-enders needs. WUA meetings and general body meetings are held to fulfill certain formalities. In spite of the absence of clear planning and ways to prioritize the concerns, WUAs are involved in resource sharing. The process towards transparent decision making, planning and monitoring, and roles and responsibilities of different actors in WUA are not properly evolved in the absence of group building process. Informs on the monthly water discharge. Transaction cost: Whenever the WUA conducts meeting it sends agenda three days in advance to all the members, mostly through laskar. However, a number WUA Presidents expressed their concern on the cost involved in travel and organizing meetings. One WUA president forthright in asking a question - who should bear expenses related to meetings, books, etc. Recently there was a meeting in response to the department s information that water will be released to all tanks in order to support drinking water and water for animals. But then, the WUA after its 2 nd term election, a year back, does not have any funds. Regularity of meetings is considered as an important aspect, indicating health of any Self-help group. WUA generally meets as directed by the competent authority. A WUA president in Telangana region stated that after second term election it has met only once, to endorse the government decision to fill rain-fed tanks 6. WUA is expected to maintain 13 books of records. A majority of them found it difficult to maintain. There is a need to reduce and bring it down to a minimum number of books of records. Some key observations from the field include: - The maximum number times any WUA has met in the previous year ( ) was five times. - The resolutions passed will be submitted to DC / DE and then moves to EE. 6 The total number of tanks in the SRSP area is around 600, while under LMD there are 172 tanks. Due to severe scarcity and low rainfall (80% less than normal rainfall) the supply to minor and sub-minor was stopped. The district administration has decided to replenish tanks with Project water where there is severe drinking water scarcity due to prevailing drought conditions.

11 Ap-pim/kvr/ WUA is considered as a service provider than representative body of farmers. People expect WUA to fulfill their desires / aspirations. So, farmers believe that WUA has responsibility to do everything. - WUA President and TC members are interested in financial resources. Any WUA with more plough-back money has higher motivation to take up physical works. - All physical works are prioritized and carried out by WUA and competent authority as per the availability of resources. Because, in the present context, there are no mechanisms to seek farmers role and to share information on financial resources. - The time taken to receive plough back money is generally more than a year. This will not coincide with time of repair and maintenance, which should take place before khariff crop season. This has largely affected WUA functions. General Body Meetings 7 : At least one-third of farmers (quorum) under WUA must attend general body. Therefore, in several cases WUA have recorded two meetings of general body; first, where quorum was not there, second with out quorum. It was felt across WUAs that organizing general body meeting was most difficult part of WUA functions. Practically, it was found difficult to organize farmers of different villages in one village. They found it rather convenient to organize village-wise Grama Saba where TC will take lead and attended by WUA President. Others key issues affecting the functioning of WUA are: - WUAs have not been functioning as a representative unit of all farmers. The responsibilities, decision making and benefits if any are skewed towards the chair person/vice chair person. The role of TCs is marginal and limited to getting his share of work. - The sub-committees are formed only in exceptional cases. This approach seems to be not helpful in institutionalizing specific functions and functional responsibilities. - The tenant farmers have not been involved in any way in WUA, which may affect negatively in so far collective action is concerned. This is happening in spite of a provision in act for inclusive membership for tenants in WUA and sub-committee to deal with such issues. This is only indicates lack of understanding on such issues and ability to translate concerns into action. - The participation of farmers in planning and chalking out the priorities is almost absent. Neither there is an attempt to provide the space (by the office bearers or departments) nor pro-active action by farmers. - There is also no upward linkage in decision making process in the absence of Distributory committee and Project Committee resulting in decision making at these levels volatile. 7 The Authority shall meet at least once in three months at such place and time as the President may decide.

12 Ap-pim/kvr/ Tank based WUAs: These tanks are rain-fed and independent of major irrigation projects. Tanks based WUAs worked with minor irrigation department. The status of WUAs in single villages was found different depending on whether they come under minor or major irrigation projects. There are variations in resource position, WUA functions and capacity building aspects between WUAs of minor and major irrigation. Conflict resolution: Across WUAs it was felt that Gram Sarpanch and village elders will play a larger role in conflict resolution. While resolving disputes necessary information including land maps will be consulted. The conflicts will be discussed in WUA, only when there is water. In few cases, though issues were took up for discussion it did not result in mutually agreed upon resolutions. For example, a TC has reported encroachment of field channel by a socially weak farmer (as it passes through his land). The WUA did not discuss or pass a resolution. Instead, the TC was asked to find alternative field channel to his field. Monitoring at WUA level: The system of monitoring is absent at WUA level. There is no mechanism to regularly observe the quality of WUA and provide necessary support. Hence the study elicited WUAs view on indicators for assessing the performance of WUAs. The response was varied. The common indicators emerged from farmers are: Water Management (Meeting needs of tail-enders) Working with farmers and taking part in conflict resolutions Functional status of sub-committee and TC members Participation in Joint Azmoish 8 and Revenue generated at WUA level; and Resources available and utilization WUA role in involving village leaders and farmers in planning; WUA relations with officials Responsibility in understanding issues and facilitation of action (e,g., closing crab holes in field channels) Farmers role: Farmers used to do certain things on their own. Whenever, there was need a group of farmers used to approach officials for finding way out. With WUA coming into picture, much of this was expected by WUA. Now there is no felt responsibility on farmers part to mobilize fellow farmers. Now farmers feel, the WUA president will take care of every thing. When discussed with the WUA president, he was of the view that farmers earlier used to take care of field channels, but now they expect WUA to do everything. Many farmers have even blocked field channels, which makes it difficult for farmers in upper reach. Some major views gathered from farmers are: - In the past, farmers use to attend repair works or engage workers. But with the increase in tenant farmers (from crop to crop), farmer s participation has come down. For example, in Singavaram village out of 300 farmers, 200 are tenant farmers. Now a majority of landowners have leased out land in small parcels. Tenants prefer watering the field and not any other work as they 8 Joint azmoish is assessing land by village secretary which is accompanied by WUA president, TC members and village panchayath members.

13 Ap-pim/kvr/ need to attend their wage work too. Similarly, in Pandalparru village in West Godavari, 80 households are engaged in tenant farming. - Farmers will always look at the WUA president as responsible person. A WUA president says, farmers have no role in WUA. They have no awareness and it may take another five years for them to get prepared for a new role. - The performance of WUA, particularly organizing farmers, will depend on leadership capability of executive committee members. President should play a larger role in organizing and assigning roles to farmers as per the needs in WUA area. - Based on co-operative societies experience a WUA president said, if WUA has to be successful, farmers should be involved. Only percent of farmers preferred collective action, while others are either suspicious or reluctant to take part in collective action. WUA is designed to suit specific functions of PIM. But the institutional evolution and strengthening process is affected by following conditions. a) Ineffective role play by a WUA president in mustering TC members support; b) TC is member interested in physical works contract rather than water management; c) The meeting of WUAs and General Body meetings cannot be effective, as there is no financial allocation for such activities; d) Lack of action binding factor between the WUA members and options for working towards collective action; e) Inadequate efforts to facilitate roles and responsibilities of members. 5. WUA and other institutions (i) Irrigation Department: The department officials, being competent authority, have been providing necessary support for WUAs in implementation of the project activities. They continue to manage the project activities, while WUAs provide them a support in the implementing works. The officials continue to play a regulatory role and they need skills of facilitation. Across the WUAs, it was felt that people have improved relations with Irrigation department after the formation of WUAs. In the past, each farmer used to represent his/her problem directly to officials. At present, WUA president takes responsibility and provides necessary support. While some WUAs have said that the frequency of visits by officials has increased in recent years, others felt that they are leaving to WUA president. On the whole people s ability to demand from the department has considerably improved. (ii) Agriculture Department: The support of Agriculture Department in providing knowledge, technology and extension is critical in the context of efficient use of water. Farmers have felt that the agriculture department is generally providing inputs like seeds and subsidized inputs; and not in providing strategic interventions for the over all improvement of agricultural system in irrigated area.

14 Ap-pim/kvr/ Farmers like the agricultural officials to participate in different meetings of WUAs; and also project level meetings to help farmers in crop planning. Farmers have felt lack of relationship between the irrigation and the agricultural departments. Through initiative of a few agriculture officers and own initiative of farmers, SRI method of rice cultivation was demonstrated in some places. But in the absence of combined effort of the both the departments, this experience has been limited to demonstration. Farmers in several places suggested that WUA should facilitate farmers field school 9 to build better relations between farmers and the agricultural department. Also suggested was the agricultural department should participate in all-important meetings of WUA and provide support in crop planning and other agricultural investments. (iii) Gram Panchayat: Gram sarpanch is involved whenever there is a conflict as of now. There is lack of trust between GP and WUA members. This is seen as interference rather than collaboration. A few experiences in the state suggest that role of GP can maximize the resource base of WUA. In this context different perceptions are presented: - Sarpanch should be given advisory role in WUA in view of higher position (authority on resources in the village). This will help information flow from one to other. - People saw the role for GP in relation to providing linkages with different government programmes. Since plough back of tax is taking time, it can mediate with MRO. It can also play a role in case of disputes between two villages; or decisions related to water allocation. - At present there is no role for GP. People suggested that co-opted members should also be drawn from farmers. On other users, they have felt that command farmers should be major stakeholders: Farmers have improved role in protecting and management tank, as it is like a pot in the house of farmers. - GP continues to control grass and tress, though as per the act WUA is entitled to raise revenue from grass and tress. GP has right and continue to auction tress and grass in its jurisdiction. There is no response from GP to WUA resolution asking GP to handover these rights. GP has also not responding to notice issued by the irrigation department to give its share from trees (rule as existed before WUA formation). Only a few GPs have responded this notice. - GP also auctions fish from the drinking water tanks, but WUA has no right on this. - There is improvement in tank due to works undertaken in recent years. Earlier a big farmer of GP used to take care partly in water regulation. At present there is a specific institution to look into water management. The 9 A group of small and marginal farmers come together to meet and participate in interactive learning at regular intervals during crop season. They select one acre of land (of one of the group members) for a controlled application of organic farming and to learn to identify pests and predators. The weekly FFS sessions will make farmers well versed in seed treatment, soil fertility management, and pest and disease management. In short they will learn by doing the integrated crop management.

15 Ap-pim/kvr/ relations with officers have also improved. GP invites WUA for review and other meetings. There is a need for a role of GP in WUA. The co-opted members from GP should not interfere in the decision making process. - The role of sarpanch is important in conflict resolution. Though village secretary 10 takes part in tax collection, there is no link between PRI and WUA. As per the WUA president and farmers participated in discussion, WUA need separate identity to perform its functions. In fact, after WUAs formed there is some one to take interest and concentrate on various aspects of water management. - GP has role in tanks with less than 100 acres ayacut. In this case with given functions, GP may not be able to give so much time on this, in response to question on why GP role cant be followed as in case of tanks less than 100 acres. There was no awareness in so far as sub-committee and PR role in water management as subject. - There is also relation with GP as it involves in water fee collection through village assistant. - MLA/other political leaders: Their role is also important as they can provide additional resources from MLA/MP funds. They are also important in the context of conflict resolution, negotiating with officials and set priorities in the area. - Other users: If tank is drying up, WUA has supported release of water. Women are not allowed to wash clothes in scarce period. GP though not playing any role in WUA, will need to take initiative to save water by reducing water wastage. - Water for other use: The major and medium projects are meeting other than irrigation needs. The role of WUAs in this is very important. In the absence of project level committee, the decisions on other uses always interpreted as political. The intensity of the need and prioritization is not at all understood and decision making that affect is not seen in reality. In a majority of WUAs there is a suspicion on the role of Gram Panchayat in WUAs. There is a need for building trust between two institutions besides there should be focus on taking up certain pilots to demonstrate how two institutions can improve the effectiveness of PIM. There are several examples wherein Gram Panchayat and Water Associations working together on issues such as seeking resources from food for work, resolving conflicts etc. These two institutions need to understand the respective role and forge relationships for the larger benefit of the community with respect of water management. The first phase of the PIM in the state has a major focus on the maintenance and repair. Hence, funds handled by WUAs was at a reasonably higher level in comparison with other elected local bodies like gram panchayat. This incidentally has distanced the farmers as well as the PRI from WUA and vice versa. Farmers left everything to WUAs to invest and complete the work which WUA also looked as a means of work generation. The power centres by virtue of funds handled and the jurisdiction/operational area also 10 State Government appoints village Secretary for monitoring and evaluation of revenue details of villages he is incharge of; works under Mandal Revenue Officer. Generally a village secretary looks after cluster of village in a mandal/taluka.

16 Ap-pim/kvr/ seem to have created a gap between the WUAs and the PRIs with both of them maintaining their own stands. With the passage of Phase I and the entry into the Phase II which has the crucial mandate of PIM in terms of convergence and collective action by all the actors, it is imperative to bridge the gap between the farmers, PRIs and the WUAs through better facilitation and it requires policy support. 6. Resources mobilization WUA role in repairs and maintenance depends on its ability to generate resources. As per the act, provisions were made to generate revenue for WUA to self manage and achieve financially reliance and sustainability. A closer look at the revenue flows to WUAs indicates that the major source of revenue is water fees. But the revenue department was taking enormous time to plough it back to WUAs, is a major constraint. This is due to lack of effort from the government to equip other departments and actors supposed to provide support in participatory irrigation management. The revenue in flow to WUA varied across the Telangana and Coastal Andhra regions. The water abundant regions like Godavari and Krishna WUAs seem to have control over large resources. In other words, a number of WUAs in Godavari and Krishna areas have succeed mobilizing water fee due to the availability and assured supply of water; there is comparatively better water fee collection in Godavari area. There is also scope to generate income from other resources such trees, fishery and industrial activity. On the other hand in Telangana the revenue is scarce and may not sufficient to meet maintenance and repairs. In general, tail-end WUAs have performed poor in the revenue collection. There are other issues with reference to fisheries, trees and other resources which can provide revenue to WUAs. All these related to operational issues and in spite of clear instructions, Gram Panchayats are not permitting WUAs to take control over the revenue. Field observations indicate that: - The revenue department with participation of TC, agriculture department officials and irrigation department engineers generally does joint survey. Revenue department prepare data without involving WUA. As a result instead of 1168 acres 1849 acres has been listed out. In fact islands and hillocks were also localized. In so far sharing records to WUA, revenue records indicate less than what has been collected. - Whenever there is a conflict in joint Azmoish, Sarpanch and WUA members will be involved in resolving. Several conflicts have emerged arose in deciding the area of irrigation. For example, one farmer has 7 acres. He used water only for one acre; and rest was irrigated by open well. While farmer was willing to pay one acre, he was asked to pay for all the seven acres. - The revenue from water fees has started plough back only in When the new executive committee of the WUA took office, in 2004, it has Rs. 50,000 (Plough back amount) in the account. A new account was opened and but access to earlier bank accounts was not available.

17 Ap-pim/kvr/ The revenue department gives the statement to the irrigation department only at the time of plough back of funds. There is no record for verification at WUA on the actual amount being collected every year. - GP continues to control grass and tress, though as per the act WUA is entitled to raise revenue from grass and tress. GP has already has right and continue to auction tress and grass in its jurisdiction. There is no response from GP to WUA resolution asking GP to handover. GP has also not responding to notice issued by the irrigation department to give its share from trees (rule as existed before WUA formation). Only a few GPs have responded this notice. - GP also auctions fish from drinking water tanks, but WUA has no right on this. The WUAs have expressed unequivocally that they need the government support through the necessary administrative orders, sanctions and legal provisions to mobilise the resources out of various interventions centered around the irrigation systems. This has a greater role to play in the minor irrigation context. The clarity should also emerge vis-à-vis the management rights, ownership rights and the usufruct rights among different stakeholders who share the resources. WUAs prefer an open auction, which is apprehended by the communities/institutions having customary rights over it. A win-win situation has to be evolved which is possible only by facilitating through a transparent process with clear framework developed over the property rights. This includes fisheries (some level of clarity is there with legal provisions), trees, bricks, tank bed farming, ground water utilisation and supply of drinking water to towns etc. 7. Operation & Maintenance 7.1 APERP Works Programme: The Andhra Pradesh Economic Restructuring Project (APERP) (Irrigation Component) is basically designed as a WUA support Programme. The Farmers Organizations themselves undertook the minimum rehabilitation works and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) works in respect of irrigation schemes. This process enabled the farmers to acquire experience in undertaking maintenance works and also to understand the complexity of maintaining and operating the irrigation systems. This involved executing maintenance works as per the prioritization of the works after a walk-through survey. In order to rehabilitate and modernize the existing irrigation systems, the Government has obtained financial assistance from the World Bank under the APERP (Irrigation Component) with a Project Cost of Rs millions for achieving the following objectives: (a) Place the irrigation sector on a sustainable basis through involvement of farmers in irrigation management and effecting the cost recovery. (b) Reverse the decline in irrigated area. (c) Improve the productivity of irrigated agriculture. (d) Strengthened cost recovery for Operation and Maintenance. (e) Expansion of effectively irrigated areas in existing systems. 7.2 Operation and Maintenance Costs: The works taken up by the Farmers Organizations during the last 6 years is given below. The total expenditure so far up to the end of March 2004 incurred under APERP is Rs millions. The fig 2, fig 3 and

18 Ap-pim/kvr/ fig 4 shows the O & M works by farmers organizations; O & M work done and amounts received by WUAs at state level. Fig 2: O & M Works by Farmers' Organisations Amount Value of Work Done Fig 3: O&M works by Farmers' Organisations Number of Works Number of Works

19 Ap-pim/kvr/ Fig 4: O&M works and amount recieved by WUAs at State level Year 0 Amt received in Rs.lakhs No of works 7.3 Minimum Rehabilitation: The minimum rehabilitation program was executed through the farmers organizations. Farmers were exposed to a new working environment they had to negotiate for machinery at cheaper rates, persuade the village to take up maintenance works, and maintain records to enable payment. A mobilization advance was made available for farmers to start the work. Subsequent payments were given on actual taking up of work. Maintenance works have been taken up by WUAs during the last three fiscal years, viz., 1998, 1999, The Minimum Rehabilitation Programme of Minor Irrigation Tanks is taken up for 2,934 tanks at a cost of Rs.13,618 Lakhs tanks covering an ayacut of 9.07 lakh acres in phase I and another 2,014 Minor Irrigation Tanks at a cost of Rs.8,963 lakhs covering an ayacut of 5.24 lakh acres in phase II. 7.4 Mobililzaton of Resources Different type of Sources Tank-WUAs are constrained to mobilize resources, owing to conflicting rules and unclear responsibilities. The fish from the tank waters should be open for bidding. Thus, WUAs can have higher level of resource mobilization. Tank WUAs are unclear about leasing out tank bed cultivation during summer and auctioning trees and tree crops on bunds and foreshore areas. Major and medium irrigation canal based WUAs, and Distributory committees are yet to get their canal boundary maps; which would help to plant trees, auction tree products, penalize the encroachers. (a) Water fee: The water fee collected in the area of the WUA forms an important component of the resources. The Government has decided to transfer the water fee on a percentage basis to the Farmers Organizations. The following table 2 shows the water fee and allocation made in that;

20 Ap-pim/kvr/ Table 2: Water fee and its allocation to various agencies Sector Water fee per Allocation acre WUAs DCs PCs GP Irrigation Dept Major Rs Medium Rs Minor Rs Source: G.O.Ms.No.115 Revenue (L.R-3) Department, Dtd: (b) Distribution of Water fee: One of the most important decisions that has been brought in the field of Operation and Maintenance is the linkage between water fee collected by the Revenue Department and the distribution of water fee for Operation and Maintenance works. The Government has taken yet another landmark decision by issuing orders for apportioning the water fee collected among the Farmers Organizations for the Operation and Maintenance of the irrigation systems. The water fee collected is to be adjusted in the following ratio [vide GO Ms. No. 115 Revenue (LR3) Department dated 13 th February, 2001)]. (c) Levy of fee: The Act also empowers Farmers Organizations to levy a fee to achieve the objects of the Act and for performing its functions. All the members are mandated to pay the amounts as decided by the General Body of the Farmers Organizations. (d) Other sources: In addition, the WUAs can collect contribution from their members. They can also raise income from properties within the system such as auction of usufruct of trees, rent on irrigation properties, etc. Other funds as received from the Central Government as management subsidy or calamity relief would also contribute to its resources. 8. Role of WUA: The farming community as well as PRIs are appreciating emergence of dedicated institution for water management. But at the same time PRI is threatened by the presence of WUA. In some cases there is congruence between PRI and WUA in accessing the programmes such as Food for Work to carry out necessary repairs for the system improvement. While there seem to be some role building at WUA functionaries level, there is a gap in terms of the same at farmer s level. The farmers seem to be gradually withdrawing from their traditional role in water management/o&m and trying to shift the onus on WUAs even for minor repairs/issues. For instance the field channels need to be maintained at farmer s level, which hitherto was the practice adopted; the farmers are relying, rather demanding the WUAs to get it done now. WUAs are in turn looking up for the share of Water fees they are entitled to carry out this. WUAs functionaries are also looking for as much work as possible to be handled by them and encouraging this. WUA role in joint azmoish is limited to the cases where there is a conflict. There is a huge gap between the WUA claims and the actual revenue collection. This is due to lack of proper system, records and stakes of different actors involved in the entire process (Village secretary, Revenue department, WUA, Pay and Accounts, Irrigation dept, banks). In majority of the WUAs visited, the time taken to plough back 11 the WUA s 11 The process involved in plough back starts with joint azmoish and the farmers pay their cess as per azmoish records; some amount of cess again comes back to WUA of that respective area. This is basically to strengthen the WUA, govt has provided such option. It is dealt in detail in 11.8 section.